Sunday, July 16th

Small Victories

(Adapted from the [email protected] newsletter)

We were floored by this story about 80 people who formed a human chain to rescue a drowning family, and we immediately thought of Rebecca Solnit’s essay comparing the conservative ideology of isolation to the reality of our communion with each other and the world:

“The modern right may wish that every man were an island, entire of himself, but no one is wholly independent. You can’t survive without taking air into your lungs, you didn’t give birth to or raise yourself, you won’t bury yourself, and in between you won’t produce most of the goods and services you depend on to live. Your gut is full of microorganisms, without which you could not digest all the plants and animals, likely grown by other people, on which you rely to survive. We are nodes on intricate systems, synapses snapping on a great collective brain; we are in it together, for better or worse.”

(Adapted from Jen Hofmann's Action Checklist for Americans of Conscience)

Acts of Gratitude

Get out your stamps, postcards, and sparkle markers for some gratitude mail.

• Thank Sen. Lindsey Graham for speaking out about Donald Trump Jr.’s meeting with the Russians.  Suggested text: "Your tenacious grilling of FBI director nominee Christopher Wray revealed that election interference should be reported to the FBI. Thanks." [Include your state and party.]
  
  Address:290 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510

• Thank Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) for her ingenious way of highlighting discrimination. Her proposal requires citizens claiming more than $150,000 in tax deductions to pass a drug test.  You could write: "I appreciate your advocacy for equality for the poorest Americans."
  
  Address: 2252 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
  
  
• Thank Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Mayor, for getting one right by posting the EPA’s deleted climate science data and forcing the current administration to face climate facts. You can start by saying: "I appreciate your leadership."
  
  Address: City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602

• Thank Brigitte Macron. You can tell Madame Macron (in French or English): "Mme. Macron, Je suis desolé que notre président soit brut et dégoûtant. Je n'ai pas voté pour lui. Merci pour votre hospitalité et grâce." (I am sorry our president is rude and gross. I didn’t vote for him. Thank you for your hospitality and grace.)
  
  Address: 55, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris, France
  International mail requires $1.15 in stamps.

Saturday, July 15th

(Adapted from Rogan's List)

In what seemed like a throwback to an earlier era, female reporters were escorted out of a chamber in the House of Representatives earlier this week for wearing sleeveless dresses and open-toed shoes…  As reported in Vanity Fair, "

Female lawmakers began these efforts after a reporter was banned from entering the Speaker’s Lobby last week for wearing a sleeveless dress. The rules, which are enforced only on the House side of the Capitol, are not new—but after the incident last week, Speaker Paul Ryan released an announcement reiterating the dress code, per CBS:

Speier and her colleagues took to the Capitol—and to Twitter—to make their opinions heard. On Thursday, Speier released a flyer via Twitter urging other female lawmakers to wear sleeveless dresses this Friday, and to take a photo in their sleeveless finery together Friday afternoon."

So on Friday, congresswomen stood up for their "right to bare arms," by wearing sleeveless dresses and open-toed shoes. It was the whimsical idea of Congresswoman Jackie Speier of California, who was tired of seeing women being told what to wear.”  (Read more.)

Let’s take some time to thank Rep. Speier for coordinating this effort: 

• Washington Office:  2465 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515 
  
  
• San Mateo, CA Office:  55 Bovet Rd, Suite 780, San Mateo, CA 94402

Thursday, July 13th

(Adapted from Rogan's List)

As conservative writer David Frum, a speechwriter for President George W. Bush, tweeted yesterday, "Why isn’t every GOP intel & foreign affairs committee chair House & Senate demanding removal of proven security risks from White House?"

Why indeed?

Want to learn more? Read this timeline from the New York Times, and then take a moment to ask those House and Senate chairs that very question. 

Find them here: 

1. Senate Intel Committee:  https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/
   
   
2. Senate Foreign Relations Committee: https://www.foreign.senate.gov/about/committee-membership
   
   
3. House Intel Committee:  https://intelligence.house.gov/about/hpsci-majority-members.htm
   
   
4. House Foreign Affairs Committee: https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/subcommittee/full-committee/
   
   

Tuesday, July 11th

(Adapted from Rogan's List)

Seventeen (17) bills are currently on the House agenda for the week of July 10. 

This is an opportunity to be informed about what is on the House agenda.  You can make any last-minute calls or send emails to our representative and let him know how you would like him to vote on specific bills.  Contact information at http://www.philipstowndemocrats.org/representative_sean_patrick_maloney.

One of the bills on the House agenda this week is HR2810: National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), otherwise known as the defense budget. Here is the text of the bill as of July 6.   You can expect to hear more about it in the media this week.

Knowledge is power.

Monday, July 10th

(Adapted from Jen Hofmann's Action Checklist for Americans of Conscience)

PRINCIPLE: I believe in a quality education for America’s youth.

ACTION:  Oppose Betsy DeVos' Decision To Loosen For-Profit College Rules.

CONTACT: Send an email to all three of your Members of Congress (lookup or leave message).

SCRIPT: I’m from [ZIP] and I am very concerned about Betsy DeVos’ decision to loosen for-profit college rules. I want students to be protected. I want colleges and universities to be evaluated based on how many graduates are able to pay back their loans--and if programs consistently fail these tests, they should lose access to federal student-aid dollars. Thank you.

 BONUS ACTION: Oppose cutting funds for kids in special education.

CALL YOUR 2 SENATORS THIS WEEK (lookup or leave message).

SCRIPT: Hi. I’m concerned about cuts to services for kids in special ed programs. I believe we have a responsibility to fully support all learners. The Senate healthcare bill strips Medicaid funding which currently covers essential tools, staff, and screenings to give these kids a fair chance. I oppose the bill for many reasons, but this one is critical. (If it affects you directly, share why.) Thanks